New wellness-themed retail hub launched at Dhoby Ghaut station

Other themed retail concepts planned for two stations in CBD over next few years

- Esther Loi

Commuters travelling to Dhoby Ghaut can now hit the gym, see a doctor and grab a salad, all without leaving the MRT station.

Just above the North-South Line platform of Dhoby Ghaut station is a collection of shops and businesses – including clinic Alliance Medical, gym operator The Gym Pod, and food and beverage chain SaladStop! – that cater to the health and wellness needs of commuters.

It also includes a co-working and event space large enough to hold corporate town halls and weekend flea markets.

Called Staytion Lifestyle Centre, the shops and services are part of a new themed retail concept launched on July 29 by Stellar Lifestyle, the retail arm of transport operator SMRT.

Experts say it is part of efforts by SMRT to provide more targeted retail offerings at its train stations, as it deals with stiff competition from online retailers and shopping malls.

In recent years, Stellar Lifestyle has diversified the retail offerings and services at MRT stations. In 2022, it launched co-working spaces at Marsiling, Paya Lebar and Woodlands stations.

In 2023, it launched its first themed retail hubs, including the retail innovation space Hive 2.0 at Esplanade station and the entertainment hub Timezone Orchard Xchange at Orchard station.